Continuing a tradition: ONM Unveils New Work by Alex Ponca Stock
OSAGE NATION (Oct. 16, 2023) - The Osage Nation Museum will unveil an art installation
by Alex Ponca Stock titled Renaissancing the Osage on November 2, 2023. Meet the artist
during the opening reception from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the museum. Ponca Stock will unveil her
work at 6 p.m. followed by a talk about the inspiration for this monumental triptych, which
measures an impressive 9 feet high by 23 feet long. The installation will be on view from
November 2 – December 31, 2023.
In Renaissancing the Osage, Ponca Stock utilizes iconic Renaissance imagery to direct the
viewer to ideas of Osage theology. The work is a celebration of the movement of life known to
us through our belief system and the coming together of generations. As the artist relates, “We
don’t exist with out each other. Today’s culture celebrates youth, but for us it is a privilege to be
around elders. I have been lucky in my life that in Osage culture when you go to an event or
party that you get to see all of the different people together. We celebrate each other and are real
with each other and value one another.”
The unveiling of Ponca Stock’s work is part of a rich tradition at the Osage Nation Museum.
Throughout its history, many renowned Osage artists have unveiled new works at the Museum.
Tribal members may remember the distinguished portrait of Chief Bacon Rind that Franklin
Brave unveiled in 1951 to an appreciative audience of relatives and community members. “The
ONM is the communal space where we gather, create and exchange ideas about our arts and
culture and who we are as a people,” says museum director Marla Redcorn-Miller.
Alex Ponca Stock is a painter and beadworker
from the Gray Horse District of the Osage Nation.
Her clan is the Ponca Washtage or Gentle Leaders.
Stock is the third generation in her family to
graduate from the Kansas City Art Institute and
pursue the life of an artist. Ponca Stock’s work is
an investigation of community, culture, experience
and perception. She has dedicated her practice to
elevating her Osage community and other
Indigenous groups in partnerships with the Osage
Nation Foundation, the Osage Nation Museum,
Illuminative, Pipestem Law Firm, International
Sites of Conscience, the National Endowment for
the Arts, The Nelson-Atkins Museum, Hecho
Gallery, Richard Levy Gallery and the
Southwestern Association for Indian Arts
(SWAIA).
The creation of Renaissancing the Osage was made possible by an Osage Nation Foundation
Charitable Grant. The purpose of Osage Charitable Grants is to fund projects and activities that
directly benefit Osage citizens and the Osage Nation. The Foundation’s support of Osage artists
throughout the years has resulted in an incredible body of new work by a diverse range of artists.
Charitable Grants | Osage Nation Foundation (osagefoundation.org)
The unveiling and art talk are free and open to the public. For more information, call (918)
287-5441 or visit https://www.osageculture.com/culture/museum.
About the Osage Nation Museum
The premier destination to experience Osage history, art, and culture. Visit the Osage Nation
Museum (ONM) in historic Pawhuska, Oklahoma. Our rotating exhibits convey the story of the
Osage people throughout history and celebrate the culture today. Highlights include an extensive
photograph collection, historical artifacts as well as traditional and contemporary art. Founded in
1938, the ONM is the oldest tribally-owned museum in the United States. Admission and
parking are free.
Contact Information
Phone: 918-287-5441 Fax: 918-287-5227
Email: museum@osagenation-nsn.gov
Website: www.osagemuseum.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OsageNationMuseum/
Location 819 Grandview Avenue; Pawhuska, OK 74056